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Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom said she believes it is unlikely the law will be reviewed in the near future.

Speaking in the Commons, Ms Latham said: "We outlawed forced marriages in this country but could we have a debate on children of 16 still being able to be married with the consent of their parents instead of waiting until they're 18, because that seems to be an anomaly that we should be fixing."

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Mrs Leadsom replied: "I think you raise a question that many people have concerns about and that is about the safety of our children until they reach an age where they can make decisions for themselves.

"I think it's been a very long-standing law that young people can marry from the age of 16 and I don't think that that's likely to be reviewed in the near future."